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Abstract

Compared with other middle-income countries, child health in
South Africa is in a poor state, and should be addressed by
focusing on the healthcare needs of all children across a system
or region. Paediatricians have had little effect on this situation,
partly because their training is not aligned with South African
needs. The proposed re-engineering of primary healthcare will be
limited by the skewed distribution of staff and the lack of suitable
skills. A 'community' placement during specialist training, and the
creation of a sub-specialty in Community Paediatrics and Child
Health, could address the skills shortage and possibly attract health
personnel to under-served areas through creating an appropriate
career path. This proposal would also support the Department of
Health's encouraging plans to re-engineer primary healthcare.